Fence Wall and Entertainment Center

October 5, 2017

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When the ancient wood fence in my backyard reached a point of decrepitude that exceeded blight and bordered on downright embarrassing, I decided it was time to remove it. But rather than simply taking a sledgehammer to the planks, I wondered whether there was some way I could reuse the wood. After all, that fence had stood sentry in the yard for many years. I wanted to honor that legacy.

I decided to use the old fence wood to construct a backdrop for a wall-mounted television. To hold the components, I would build a custom cabinet, surround it with stained, weathered fence planks, and enjoy the 2017 football season and MLB playoffs in style.

I carefully removed the fence planks and salvaged as many as I could—those that weren't too warped or damaged. I went hunting through my basement and found a whole bunch of old colors of wood stain. Then I got some rough-grade sandpaper and went to town on those old planks. When I was done, I had 55 square feet of stained wood, all cut to various lengths and ready to become a wall.

Constructing the cabinet was tricky. I needed it to be sturdy enough to hold stereo components but light enough to mount on the wall. I opted for simple 1x6 pine planks for the top and half-inch maple plywood for the sides and shelves. I used pocket screws to fasten everything together and installed hinged covers on the bottom to conceal the cords and wiring.

I attached a simple frame to the wall studs, then installed everything over it, taking care to vary the lengths and colors of the fence planks in the process. Now I've got a great space for watching TV that actually improves the look of the room.

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Fence Wall and Entertainment Center

by jttyndale

Oct 05, 2017

When the ancient wood fence in my backyard reached a point of decrepitude that exceeded blight and bordered on downright embarrassing, I decided it was time to remove it. But rather than simply taking a sledgehammer to the planks, I wondered whether there was some way I could reuse the wood. After all, that fence had stood sentry in the yard for many years. I wanted to honor that legacy.
I decided to use the old fence wood to construct a backdrop for a wall-mounted television. To hold the components, I would build a custom cabinet, surround it with stained, weathered fence planks, and enjoy the 2017 football season and MLB playoffs in style.
I carefully removed the fence planks and salvaged as many as I could—those that weren't too warped or damaged. I went hunting through my basement and found a whole bunch of old colors of wood stain. Then I got some rough-grade sandpaper and went to town on those old planks. When I was done, I had 55 square feet of stained wood, all cut to various lengths and ready to become a wall.
Constructing the cabinet was tricky. I needed it to be sturdy enough to hold stereo components but light enough to mount on the wall. I opted for simple 1x6 pine planks for the top and half-inch maple plywood for the sides and shelves. I used pocket screws to fasten everything together and installed hinged covers on the bottom to conceal the cords and wiring.
I attached a simple frame to the wall studs, then installed everything over it, taking care to vary the lengths and colors of the fence planks in the process. Now I've got a great space for watching TV that actually improves the look of the room.